Method and apparatus for dyeing hair

ABSTRACT

An aerosol container comprising two chambers separated from each other by a common wall and each adapted to contain a reacting agent. A valve member for the discharge of aerosol product from the container is operatively connected to one of the chambers and is adapted upon initial actuation to engage a piercing element in the chamber to break the common wall so as to allow the respective agents to react with each other and to form a homogeneous mixture in the container.

United States Patent Lukesch et al.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYEING HAIR I all ofGermany Filed: Sept. 11, 1969 Appl. No.: 857,137

US. Cl ..222/82, 222/136 Int. Cl ..B67d 5/52 Field of Search ..222/80, 81, 82, 136, 54], 394,

[ Mar. 14, 1972 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant ExaminerL. Martin Att0rneyMichael S. Striker [5 7] ABSTRACT An aerosol container comprising two chambers separated from each other by a common wall and each adapted to contain a reacting agent. A valve member for the discharge of aerosol product from the container is operatively connected to one of the chambers and is adapted upon initial actuation to engage a piercing element in the chamber to break the common wall so as to allow the respective agents to react with each other and to fon'n a homogeneous mixture in the con- 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures tainer. References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,080,094 3/1963 Modderno ..222/82 PAIENTEDMAR 14 I972 \71/1/ I I I lNvENToRs-:

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ATTORNEY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYEING HAIR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for the oxidative dyeing of human hair.

A method for such oxidative dyeing of human hair has been disclosed in my copending US. application, Ser. No. 619,252, of which the subject application forms a division.

As is conventional, oxidation dye substances, such as ptoluylenediamine, prior to application thereof to the hair, are mixed with an amount of hydrogen peroxide sufficient for coloring the hair and for oxidizing the oxidation dye substance and this mixture is then applied to the hair.

For practical purposes, the oxidation dye substance is prepacked in individual portions, since this substance is very sensitive to oxygen and should therefore not prematurely be exposed thereto. On the other hand, certain agents, such as stabilizing agents which contain hydrogen peroxide, may be packed in larger quantities in solid form, as well as in the form of a preferably aqueous solution.

To prepare for the dyeing of hair, the oxidizing substance for dyeing the hair is removed from its package and introduced into a dish in which the oxidation dye is intimately mixed with the required amount of hydrogen peroxide solution or the like, preferably by means of a small brush. Thereafter, the thus-formed mixture is applied with a flat small brush onto the hair.

It has been proposed to introduce the oxidation hair dye from an aerosol container into a plastic bottle, to introduce hydrogen peroxide into the bottle and, after forming. a homogeneous mixture in the plastic bottle, to apply the mixture from this bottle onto the hair.

It will be appreciated from the above that the preparations which must be carried out prior to application of the hair dyeing mixture to the hair, are complicated, often times ineffective and require considerable time. In addition, in the event the mixture is not rightly preportioned, the latter may be damaging to the skin.

These difficulties are particularly experienced in the case of home dyeing, i.e., when the dyeing of the hair is not carried out by a professional at a beauty parlor or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Object of the present invention is to overcome the above outlined drawbacks encountered with conventional hair dyeing processes and to provide a novel manner in which the oxidative hair dye mixture is well-proportioned and is formed in a single apparatus and released therefrom directly onto the hair.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus in which the discrete ingredients may be individually stored prior to being combined in and discharged from this apparatus. Such an apparatus according to the present invention comprises an aerosol container having two discrete chambers separated from each other by a common wall and each adapted to contain a fluid. A valve member for the discharge of aerosol product from the container is operatively connected mom of these chambers and is adapted upon initial actuation to operatively engage a piercing member disposed in the chamber for breaking the common wall to establish communication between the chambers whereby fluid from one chamber is allowed to mix with fluid from the second chamber.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FlG. 1 illustrates a schematic elevational view, partially in cross section, of an aerosol container according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows in detail the valve construction of the aerosol container in FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention and as regards the preferred embodiment of the invention, a mixture of at least one oxidation hair dye substance and a suitable carrier therefor is combined in a single aerosol container 2, prior to application of the dyeing mixture to the hair, with an exactly measured amount of hydrogen and an aerosol propellant. Thereafter, the mixture is applied to the hair.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the aerosol container 2 is provided with a first lower chamber 4 and an upper second chamber 6, separated from each other in airtight fashion by means of a common or partition wall 8. In this instance, and as an example, the chamber 4 contains, for example, a predetermined exact amount of an oxidation dye solution while chamber 6 could contain a predetermined exact amount of hydrogen peroxide and an aerosol propellant. The fluids may be admitted therein in any conventional manner.

Seated in the crown top 10 of the container 2, is a conventional valve member 12 having an actuating knob 14 with a nozzle 16 and a valve stem 18 with a duct which communicates the chamber 6 with the atmosphere. Axial depression of the valve stem 18 causes a port 18b in the duct 18a to open in chamber 6 to effect discharge of the product from the container via the nozzle 16 in the knob 12.

The separating wall 8 is formed at its lower surface with an annular groove 20 which permits easy breaking of the wall 8 when pressure is downwardly exerted thereon.

Upwardly extending from the wall 8 is a stud 22 which atits upper end is formed with an indentation 24 which, upon initial actuation of the valve member 12, is forcibly engaged by the lower end 26 of valve stem 18 which in this region thereof has a tapered surface 26 arranged to be abuttingly received in the indentation 24. Under pressure of the valve stem 18, the stud 22 is thus forced downwardly thereby causing the common wall 8 to break along the annular groove 20 whereby communication between the respective chambers 4 and 6 is established and the oxidation dye contained in chamber 4 will now react and mix with the hydrogen peroxide and the aerosol propellant contained in chamber 6 to form a homogeneous hair dye mixture in the container.

After shaking the aerosol container, the thus-formed solution may now be sprayed from the nozzle 16 upon axial depression of the valve stem 18.

The aerosol container preferably is cylindrical and may be made of any conventional material while the common wall formed in the container may preferably be made of a suitable thermoplastic material.

As shown, the upper chamber 6 including its side wall 28, crown section 10 and wall 8 may be integrally formed into a cylindrical cup secured airtightly to the chamber 4 which may also be in the form of a cylindrical cup. Alternatively, the chamber 4 may have an upwardly extending wall 30 which is arranged to enclose the outer wall periphery 28 of the chamber 6 and in this case is connected with its upper end 32 to a rim section of crown top 10. As shown, the valve member 12 with its lower end 34 is airtight and fixedly secured to upper wall 36 of upper chamber 6.

It will be understood from the above description of the arrangement of the subject apparatus that with the latter not only a novel manner is provided to combine discrete fluids either in gas or liquid form, whenever desired without any auxiliary means, but in addition, the subject device serves to store for any length of time the respective fluids in their respective chamber. Hitherto, such an arrangement was unknown, especially in the field of application as outline hereinbefore.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended 1. A mixing and dispensing device adapted to retain at least two miscible ingredients isolated from each other during storage and arranged to permit mixing of the same prior to dispensing for use as a mixed product, said device comprising a first and a second storage chamber, each containing at least one miscible ingredient; a partition wall intermediate said first and second chambers and separating said chambers from each other; an annular groove in said partition wall and forming therein a weakened annular portion which is thinner than the remainder of said partition wall; means for establishing a passage through said partition wall and comprising a member projecting substantially normal to said partition wall from a portion within said annular groove into one of said chambers, said member having at the free end thereof distant from said partition wall a recess; a dispensing valve communicating with said one chamber, said dispensing valve having a valve stem axially aligned with said member and being movable between an inactive and a dispensing position; and actuating means for actuating said passage establishing means and comprising an abutment member connected at one end to the end of said valve stem facing said free end of said member projecting from said partition wall and the other end of said abutment member tapering towards said free end of said projecting member so that during movement of said valve stem from said inactive to said dispensing position, sad abutment member will apply an axial force on said projecting member to thereby break said partition wall along said weakened annular portion to establish communication between said chambers.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,648,899 D te March 14. 1972.

Inventor(s) Heinz Lukesch, et. 31.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet, insert [73] Assignors To Hans Schwarzkopf, Hamburg, Germany Also on the cover sheet, insert [30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 3, 1966 Germany 38 587 Also on the cover sheet, insert 7 [62] Division of Ser. No. 619,252, February 28, 1967, now

abandoned. Column 1, after the heading "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYEING HAIR", insert as a new paragraph, the following: This is a division of application Ser. No. 619,252, filed February 28, 1967, nowabandoned.

Signed and sealed this ZOthday'of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD .M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK Attest'ing Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-10SO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 w us. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-356-334. 

